Govt. reaches out to crisis-hit Totapuri mango and cocoa farmers in Andhra Pradesh

In a major market intervention measure aimed at mitigating the crisis that is plaguing the mango farmers, the Government of Andhra Pradesh on Thursday permitted the Director of Horticulture & Sericulture (DoH&S) to procure 6.50 lakh tonnes of the Totapuri variety for the current season to provide the growers a remunerative price.

It was stated in G.O. Rt.No.608, issued by Agriculture & Cooperation Department ex officio Special Chief Secretary B. Rajasekhar, that the move would help the farmers in sustaining mango cultivation in the combined Chittoor district, and preventing distress sales.

A sum of ₹260 crore had been sanctioned as the government support price, at the rate of ₹4 per kg, in compliance with the prescribed Standard Operating Procedure (SoP).

The government also permitted the DoH&S to procure nearly 2,977 tonnes of unsold cocoa beans as per the SoP for the current season, and sanctioned ₹14.89 crore, at the rate of ₹50 per kg, as the support price from the Price Stabilisation Fund vide G.O Rt.No.606. 

This was in response to complaints by the cocoa farmers that they were deprived of remunerative prices, and a request by them to implement international cocoa price to their beans.